Today, Hunter is joined by former whistleblower Brittany Iriart and Civil Rights Attorney Andy McNulty to discuss a scandalous coverup with the Denver Sheriffs Department. When she moved to a civilian oversight position with the Denver Sheriff, Brittany hoped to bring some much needed accountability to a department with a history of burying misconduct. Unfortunately, the incremental changes around the edges did little to reign in a department that viewed itself above the law.

Guests:

Brittany Iriart, Former Whistle Blower, Colorado

Andy McNulty, Civil Rights Attorney, Newman McNulty, Denver, Colorado

Resources:

Coverage of Brittany's Case

https://whistleblowersblog.org/whistleblower-of-the-week/brittany-marie-iriart/

https://kdvr.com/news/problem-solvers/denver-whistleblower-loses-job/

https://kdvr.com/news/problem-solvers/denver-whistleblower-put-on-administrative-leave-after-speaking-out-about-deputy-punching-inmate-in-wheelchair/

https://kdvr.com/news/problem-solvers/video-shows-denver-deputy-punch-inmate-in-wheelchair/

https://kdvr.com/news/problem-solvers/denver-pays-175k-to-fired-whistleblower-who-tipped-off-the-problem-solvers/

https://www.9news.com/article/news/local/next/denver-whistle-blower-claims-deputy-discipline-is-broken/73-fce759b7-def2-46a7-9ebe-36d39a3bfedd

https://www.aljazeera.com/videos/2020/7/10/whistle-blower-protection-calls-to-defend-those-who-speak-up

Contact Andy

https://nmlaw.squarespace.com/whistleblower-wins

Government Accountability Project

https://whistleblower.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/NewMayGovAcctProj_Blue-Wall-of-Silence-Report231.pdf

Other Issues with Denver Sheriff

https://www.9news.com/article/news/investigations/allegations-ties-gangs-denver-sheriffs-department-never-fully-investigated/73-8492c480-b933-448c-902a-598a50ba3274

https://www.9news.com/article/news/local/investigations/independent-monitor-denver-sheriffs-department-internal-affairs-investigation-flawed/73-529774856

https://www.westword.com/news/denver-sheriff-internal-affairs-bureau-to-be-put-under-civilian-control-11011209

https://www.westword.com/news/chris-colbrunos-naked-march-at-center-of-denver-sheriff-whistleblower-lawsuit-6771556

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Today, Hunter is joined by Colorado Newsline Journalist Chase Woodruff. Over the past several weeks, Aurora, Colorado has been thrust into the national spotlight thanks to right wing media and politicians. Despite their many sensationalist claims, Aurora and the state at large have not in fact been taken over by Venezuelan gangs. Today's episode is meant to help compile reporting and walk through some of the "evidence" that have been paraded out so that you can have a more informed understanding of how we got here.

Guests:

Chase Woodruff, Journalist, Colorado Newsline

Resources:

Aurora City Council and The Public Defender

https://x.com/maxamillianlevy/status/1778532516099772871

https://x.com/PDefenselessPod/status/1767741717598421010

https://x.com/PDefenselessPod/status/1762647344493809895

https://x.com/PDefenselessPod/status/1715131506861945192

The July 28 Incident

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1036818568011331

https://sentinelcolorado.com/metro/aurora-cops-counter-social-media-accounts-of-unruly-throng-at-aurora-shopping-center-watching-venezuelan-election-results/

https://www.facebook.com/DanielleForAurora/posts/1012880767513650?ref=embed_post

https://www.facebook.com/AuroraCOPD/posts/misinformation-has-spread-on-social-media-regarding-the-large-gathering-on-sunda/875139524650906/

Danelle Jurinsky on Fox News

https://www.foxnews.com/video/6361740992112

https://www.foxnews.com/us/suspected-tren-de-aragua-gang-members-aurora-colorado-released-1000-bond

https://www.foxnews.com/video/6361627530112

https://www.foxnews.com/video/6361224247112

https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/auroras-violent-gang-problem-didnt-happen-over-night

https://www.foxnews.com/video/6361582011112

Coverage of The Venezuelan Gang

https://x.com/dcwoodruff/status/1831748770197074264

https://denverite.com/2024/09/04/venezuelan-gang-aurora-colorado-factcheck/

https://coloradonewsline.com/2024/09/04/disputing-claims-of-gang-takeover-aurora-tenants-protest-slumlord-owner/

https://sentinelcolorado.com/metro/aurora-committed-to-shutting-down-slum-lord-apartment-complex-7-a-m-tuesday/

https://sentinelcolorado.com/metro/aurora-committed-to-shutting-down-slum-lord-apartment-complex-7-a-m-tuesday/

OP ED by Sengenberger

https://denvergazette.com/opinion/columns/venezuelan-gangs-run-amok-in-aurora-jimmy-sengenberger/article_05c9423e-55b1-532d-b42e-88ff82ccc031.html

Thread with the Letter

https://x.com/PDefenselessPod/status/1832177118240759833

Issues with Gang Databases

https://scholarship.law.stjohns.edu/lawreview/vol94/iss4/11/

https://www.naacpldf.org/press-release/ldf-responds-to-department-of-investigations-findings-regarding-the-nypds-criminal-group-database/

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-07-14/california-bars-police-from-using-lapd-records-in-gang-database-as-scandal-widens

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-06-24/california-police-urged-to-stop-using-gang-database-deemed-biased

https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/dcs-gang-database-highlights-unconstitutional-systems-nationwide-2022-01-19/

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Today, Hunter is joined by Jessica Pishko to discuss her new book The Highest Law in the Land: How the Unchecked Power of Sheriffs Threatens Democracy. So far on the show, Hunter has spent a lot of time discussing the corruption and abuses of police and prosecutors, but the show has not spent much time discussing the issues of sheriffs. Thanks to years of incredible investigative journalism, Jessica provides an in depth and distributing account for how sheriffs around the country are posing a threat to civil liberties and our systems of checks and balances.

Guests:

Jessica Pishko, Lawyer, Journalist, and Author

Resources:

Pick up a copy of the book here

https://www.amazon.com/Highest-Law-Land-Unchecked-Threatens/dp/0593471318

Check out Jessica's Substack

https://sheriffs.substack.com/

Follow Jessica on Twitter

https://x.com/JessPish?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

Mark Lamb Prison Controversy

https://azluminaria.org/2023/09/29/pinal-sheriff-mark-lambs-office-spent-200k-on-guns-and-ammo-from-an-inmate-welfare-fund/

Joe Arpaio

https://www.aclu.org/press-releases/federal-court-rules-arizona-sheriff-joe-arpaio-violated-us-constitution

https://www.npr.org/2021/10/29/1050490391/joe-arpaio-legal-costs-100-million-arizona-sheriff

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Today, Hunter is joined by Lisa Wayne, the Executive Director of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. In this episode, Lisa and Hunter discuss how NACDL is trying to help give Public and Private Defenders the tools, skills, and policies they need to fight for their clients in and out of the court room.

Guests:

Lisa Wayne, Executive Director, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Resources:

Trial Penalty

https://www.nacdl.org/Landing/TheTrialPenalty

NACDL

https://www.nacdl.org/

https://www.facebook.com/NACDL

https://x.com/NACDL

https://www.instagram.com/nacdl/

https://www.tiktok.com/@nacdlofficial

Contact Hunter Parnell:

[email protected]

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@PDefenselessPod

www.publicdefenseless.com

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Today, Hunter is by two Colorado State Public Defenders, James Hardy and Kayleigh TenBarge. When this episode was first recorded, James, Kayleigh, and Hunter were primarily focused on a piece of legislation that the Defenders Union of Colorado attempted and failed to get through the state house. That bill sought to get workload standards in place in Colorado by mid-2025. After recording that segment, an audit of the Colorado State Public Defender dropped, and revealed that at least 46% and maybe as many as 99% of Public Defenders in Colorado are exceeding workloads. Considering that, OSPD has stated they will get a workload standard by mid-2026. But why the wait? What will happen in the interim? What relief will come to an increasingly overloaded system?

Guests:

Kayleigh TenBarge, Public Defender, Colorado, Secretary, Defenders Union of Colorado

James Hardy, Appellate Public Defender, Colorado, Executive Board Co-Chair, Defenders Union of Colorado

Resources:

Audit of the Colorado Public Defender

https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/documents/audits/2354p_office_of_the_state_public_defender.pdf

Defenders Union of Colorado

https://www.defendersunionco.org/

Defenders Union of Colorado Back Bill

https://www.lawweekcolorado.com/article/defenders-union-of-colorado-backs-public-defender-workload-study-bill/

Ethics Opinion

https://www.cobar.org/Portals/COBAR/11.07.22/FINAL%20Opinion%20146%20-%20duty%20of%20workload%20opinion(7184264.1).pdf?ver=RVD5XQ5MbrWfJOOOtcABBw%3d%3d)

Bill

https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb24-1289

Email Kayleigh

[email protected]

Email DUC

[email protected]

Defenders Union of Colorado Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/defenders_union_of_colorado/

Contact Hunter Parnell:

[email protected]

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@PDefenselessPod

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Today, Hunter is joined by Professor Rachel Kincaid to talk about her recent law review article about the junk science excited delirium. Through her research, we can trace how this science steeped in racism has been able to infect the legal system and provide police a shield for their unlawful uses of force.

Guests:

Rachel Kincaid, Professor of Law, Baylor University

Resources:

Read Rachel's Article

https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4831202

Professor Kincaid's Faculty Page

https://law.baylor.edu/person/rachel-kincaid

Contact Hunter Parnell:

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Today, Hunter is joined by our first North Carolina Public Defender, Beth Stang. Today, we will be discussing all that is going right, going wrong, and what the future holds for Public Defense in Beth's office that covers Henderson, Transylvania, and Polk counties.

Guests:

Beth Stang, Chief Public Defender, Henderson, Transylvania, and Polk County, North Carolina

Resources:

Email Beth

[email protected]

Contact Hunter Parnell:

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Today, Hunter is joined once again by Alex Kornya to discuss the intersection between the criminal and civil legal systems. Last time, Alex detailed how fines and fees abuse people in the criminal and civil legal systems, and today, Alex joins us to discuss crime nuisance ordinances and "Crime Free" Housing programs.

Guests:

Alex Kornya, Litigation Director and General Counsel, Iowa Legal Aid

Resources:

2020 story from the Atlantic about this issue and some history:

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2020/03/crime-free-housing-lets-police-influence-landlords/605728/

HUD guidance on how crime nuisance ordinances may violate the Fair Housing Act:

https://www.hud.gov/sites/documents/FINALNUISANCEORDGDNCE.PDF

DOJ Reinforces Previous Guidance on Crime Nuisance

https://www.justice.gov/d9/2024-08/doj_crime-free_and_nuisance_letter.pdf?utm_campaign=justicegrants&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

Justice Department Secures Landmark Agreement with City of Anoka, Minnesota, to End Disability Discrimination in "Crime-Free" Housing Program

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-secures-landmark-agreement-city-anoka-minnesota-end-disability

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Today, Hunter is joined by journalist Jeremiah Hayden. Over the past several months, Jeremiah has been covering the reality for homeless people in Grants Pass, Oregon. If you are familiar with that town, it is likely because it was the town at the center of the recent Supreme Court case saying it was okay to criminalize homeless people. Instead of diving into the decision, Jeremiah is here to help people understand what it was like for a homeless person living in the town and what will happen now that their very existence can be criminalized.

at around 55 minutes, Hunter said the city of Vail paid $26 million to not build affordable housing. The actual figure is $17 million

https://coloradosun.com/2023/09/21/vail-condemnation-bighorn-housing-land/#:~:text=The%20Town%20of%20Vail%20will,the%20town%20and%20the%20company.

Guests:

Jeremiah Hayden, Staff Reporter, Street Roots, Portland Oregon

Resources:

Street Roots

https://www.streetroots.org/

Street Roots Reporting on Grants Pass

https://www.streetroots.org/news/archive/grants%2520pass

Grants Pass Decision

https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/23pdf/23-175_19m2.pdf

Martin v Boise

https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2019/04/01/15-35845.pdf

Gospel Mission Rescue

https://kobi5.com/news/grants-pass-mayor-reacts-to-controversial-video-posted-by-gospel-mission-227140/

The Appeal's Coverage on Policies post Grants Pass

https://theappeal.org/supreme-court-homelessness-grants-pass-ruling-camping-bans/

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Today, Hunter is joined once again by Alexandra Bailey, senior campaign strategist with the Sentencing Project, to discuss how her and a coalition of amazing activists were able to get a Domestic Violence Survivor Justice Act passed in Oklahoma.

Guests:

Alexandra Bailey, Senior Campaign Strategist, The Sentencing Project

Resources:

OK Survivor Justice Coalition

https://oksurvivorjusticecoalition.org/legislation

Sentencing Project

https://www.sentencingproject.org/

Email Alexandra [email protected]

Coverage of the Bill

https://boltsmag.org/oklahoma-survivors-act/

https://www.sentencingproject.org/press-releases/oklahoma-survivor-justice-coalition-applauds-governor-for-signing-the-oklahoma-survivors-act/

https://www.sentencingproject.org/newsletter/oklahoma-survivors-act-overcomes-veto/

https://www.kjrh.com/news/local-news/just-the-start-domestic-violence-survivors-react-to-new-law

https://ktul.com/news/local/one-on-one-ok-gov-stitt-champions-the-newly-passed-domestic-violence-bill-survivor-victime-abuse-governor-oklahoma-justice-act

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